Kedarnath valley to be fumigated

As the rotten smell of decomposed bodies, animal carcasses and floating wood makes it difficult for rescuers to remove the dead buried under mounds of rubble in Kedarnath Valley, the Uttarakhand government is planning to fumigate the area with herbal spray. This should make it easier for airdropped men to dig out the bodies and cremate them, the state’s health minister said.

Scented solution: The government plans to fumigate the entire 14-km stretch that leads to the Kedarnath shrine with herbal spray

According to Uttarakhand Health Minister Surinder Singh Negi, the main problem the rescue teams are facing at the moment is to enter the Kedarnath Valley, the worst affected in the June 14-17 incessant rains that triggered landslides. Hundreds have died and an equal number of people are missing in the state.

“At the moment, our prime focus is on the Kedarnath Valley. Our prime need is to take out the bodies buried under at least 10-20 feet of rubble,” Negi said.

“The main question we faced was how to enable rescue teams to enter the area, where it is said many bodies are buried. The teams found it extremely difficult to airdrop in these areas because of the rising stench, which is increasing every day due to the incessant rains,” Negi added.

“We are now planning to use herbal sprays which will make the air around that area a little breathable. This will then enable the teams to get down, use the earth moving machines and dig out the dead. The dead can then be given a decent funeral,” Negi added.

The minister also said they will use the spray in the entire 14 km stretch that leads to the Kedarnath shrine. Negi said they have already sprayed bleaching powder over Kedarnath Valley to prevent the bodies from decaying. He added there was a fear that the floating bodies in the river and streams could cause an epidemic.